Ticking from engine, collapsed lifter?

[Underton]

After a recent off roading trip I noticed had a pretty bad ticking noise from the driver side that would increase in respect of the rpms. I checked the oil level and pressure already and both are fine. I took the rocker cover off and none felt loose. Its also running a little rough and it has a weird vibration at speeds, so I've tried to stop driving it for the time being. Is there anyway I can check before ripping the intake manifold off? Its a stock 74 302.

 

[broncnaz]

Did you turn the engine over and check each rocker arm with its respective cylinder at TDC? If not then its possible one is loose and just happened to have pressure on it while you checked it.
Other things you can check under the valve cover are make sure all the rocker studs are the same height. sometimes they can pull out and be a cause of ticking. Also inspect the pushrods closely a bent one can also cause ticking. lastly make sure all the rocker are nuts are torqued down correctly. unless you have the adjustable type (which is uncommon) but if you do you may need little more than a valve adjustment.

 

[75MIKE]

Broken valve spring?

 

[Underton]

I wasn't able to check each cylinder at tdc. I plan on inspecting all the push rods and doing a valve adjustment once I get home after finals are over. I didn't see any broken valve springs. I feel like those would be fairly noticeable.

 

[broncnaz]

With a stock 74 you should have non adjustable valves. So about all you can do is make sure the rocker arm nuts are torqued down.

 

[Underton]

How would I make sure of they're non adjustable?

 

[broncnaz]

Usaully only very earlier 302's had adjustable vlaves. 68/69. but you never know whats been done over time. You can check the rocker arms the tip that goes on the valve step would be basically flat if it was adjustable type. The non adjustable type are called rail rockers which have rails on both sides of the rocker arm that keep it aligned with the valve stem. Or If you take a rocker arm off the stud will have a shoulder. which means non adjustable.
Also adjust type will either have a slotted pushrod hole or guide plates for the pusrods. if you just have a standard round hole there non adjustable.
but basically the nonadjustable type you just torque the nut down. With the adjustable type you can keep adjusting well beyond the lifters travel and you'll push the valve open if adjusted to far.

 

[SteveL]

hope its just a lifter. When my 66 did it it was a main bearing. It sounded like a lifter. first we pulled valve covers. Next the heads were off. Still a tick. Then we ended up pulling motor and put it on the stand. I guess 10 years wasnt bad on a dd 351w. that she drove pretty hard.

 

[bmc69]

Broken valve spring?

I've had broken valve springs cause all the symptoms described...rough running, a distinct tick...and yet be hard to spot with just a casual glance. How noticeable the break is depends a lot on where on the coil the break occurred.

So yes it might be a bad lifter or it might be a wiped cam lobe too...but completely rule out the springs first.

 

[bronconut73]

I once had a ticking that was scaring the shit out of me.
Babied her home and got to looking around.
Had the valve covers off and engine running. Oil flying all over. Ticking louder than ever.
My dad walked up with a painters stir stick he was using to push on the rockers and he covered up a gap in the header gasket. It was a really bad leak. A whole little chunk of gasket had come out. I did not understand...that gasket was only 25 years old haha.
I felt foolish not realizing it was a header gasket leaking. But Dad didn't notice at first either. It seemed to have such a metallic sound but when Dad shoved that stir stick in there it was completely quiet for a second. We had a good laugh.
Still had some old sbf header gaskets lying around and threw one on in about 20 minutes. I was so super worried over nothing.
Hope yours turns out as well....

 

[TwoDalesDad]

What you have most likely is ....The press in studs holding your rockers down....The Cure is SCREW IN STUDS....CHEVY STYLE.......THE ONLY CURE

 

[bmc69]

What you have most likely is ....The press in studs holding your rockers down....E

Another possibility....yep.

 

[Jdgephar]

Double check for exhaust leaks like bronconut said. I've had spark plugs come loose, and that creates a ticking sound. My exhaust header gasket currently needs to be replaced, it ticks real bad.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

SBF ticks relative to RPM in order of severity:

• Exhaust
• Lifter
• Valve Springs
• Piston Slap (piston rocking in the cylinder)
• Broken Piston skirt
• Rod Bearing

Check all the small, easy things the guys listed here. If none of those are the culprit, I would start looking at the bottom end. Start with the oil and the next oil change. Small bits of metal would be a good indication.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

I'm following this closely, as I think I have an issue as well. No tick except on acceleration.

 

[Underton]

I'm following this closely, as I think I have an issue as well. No tick except on acceleration.

I probably won't be able to start working on this till after finals are over but I'll post an update once I find a solution. And also would an exhaust leak cause a loss in performance?

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

I am seeing the same thing and I don't think so. It seems to have lost power, especially on hills. Not getting a good feeling and think I may just start looking for a EFI motor. Ugh!

 

[Underton]

I am seeing the same thing and I don't think so. It seems to have lost power, especially on hills. Not getting a good feeling and think I may just start looking for a EFI motor. Ugh!

Replacing the engine seems extreme to me, does yours vibrate at high rpms?

 

[DuctTape]

SBF ticks relative to RPM in order of severity:

• Exhaust
• Lifter
• Valve Springs
• Piston Slap (piston rocking in the cylinder)
• Broken Piston skirt
• Rod Bearing

Check all the small, easy things the guys listed here. If none of those are the culprit, I would start looking at the bottom end. Start with the oil and the next oil change. Small bits of metal would be a good indication.

I will add rockers contacting valve covers. Look for shiny spots on inside of valve covers. I went thru two cycles of adjusting rockers on a new crate engine before it occurred to me.

I was fooled partly because the noise increased with engine temp. Just a little expansion was all it took.

I even bought a pair of old valve covers and was going to cut the tops off so I could isolate it by valve... Lesson I learned was check all the easy possibilities first...

 

[blubuckaroo]

I am seeing the same thing and I don't think so. It seems to have lost power, especially on hills. Not getting a good feeling and think I may just start looking for a EFI motor. Ugh![/QUOTE
EFI motors aren't immune to valvetrain issues.